Mike Krueger

 

 

Genetic modification of wheat may be necessary to meet the growing demand for food.

"We're farming what we can farm for the most part. We don't have the ability in the world to significantly increase acres. So we have to either increase yields or reduce demand," explains Mike Krueger, president of Fargo-based The Money Farm. "With growing populations and better economic growth we're not going to reduce demand. So we need better genetics to increase yield."

He says markets like the EU and Japan will eventually be forced to take GM wheat.

"If we see Asia keep the growth in imports, all of a sudden Japan isn't as big a wheat importer and western Europe is no longer as big a market factor," he says. "If the world decides to move to genetically modified wheat, they're not going to have an option if they're going to buy it without paying enormous prices for guaranteed non-GMO crops."

He notes there are active research programs already underway in a number of countries, including Australia and Brazil.

"Not just for Roundup Ready wheat, but for genetic modification, such as drought tolerance, or gluten issues, or it might be protein issues. We always tend to corner genetic crops as 'Roundup Ready'," says Krueger.

~ Monday, March 7, 2011 ~